Red Devils wrestlers head to Star Valley Invite

Evanston’s Batista Covolo battled Cheyenne East’s Hays Stone in the finals match at the Evanston Invitational, but lost in sudden death overtime, 5-3. Photo by Judd Kishpaugh

AFTON — It’s north to Afton for the Red Devils wrestling team to compete in a series of dual meets in the Star Valley Invite, which has become known in wrestling circles as the “Braves Brawl.”

The Herald incorrectly reported Evanston placed 20th at last weekend’s Evanston Invitational when, in fact, they finished 10th. The 20th place finish was correct as a composite score, with varsity, JV and freshman team scores combined, but in terms of the varsity finish, the scores were as follows:

1. Cheyenne East, 196.0

2. Star Valley, 145.0

3. Weber, 130.0

4. Riverton, 122.0

5. Spring Creek, 121.0

6. Green River, 107.5

7. Union, 97.0

8. Cokeville, 93.0

9. Bear River, 88.0

10. Evanston, 77.0

11. Sky View, 56.0

12. South Summit, 52.0

13. Rock Springs, 48.0

14. Rich County, 47.0

15. Lyman, 37.0

16. North Summit, 28.0

17. Jackson, 22.0

18. Hanna Elk Mountain, 21.0

19. Morgan, 18.0

20. Big Piney, 10.0

21. Saratoga, 9.0

22. Kemmerer, 8.0

23. Ben Lomond, 7.0

24. Grantsville, 4.0

25. Pinedale, 0.0

The field for the Star Valley Invitational is usually a mix of Wyoming and Idaho teams. Last year’s results from the Braves Brawl, where each team wrestles the others in duals in a round-robin style tournament, ended in an unblemished record for the host team:

1. Star Valley 7-0

2. Lander 5-2

3. Riverton 5-2

4. Evanston 3-3

5. Sugar Salem, Idaho 3-3

6. Cokeville 1-6

7. Shelley, Idaho 0-6

This style of tourney is beneficial because, unlike the Evanston Invitational, where if a wrestler lost twice, they were eliminated, every wrestler continues and will have a match with each team, if that particular team has a wrestler in the corresponding weight class. It usually begins in the mid-afternoon hours on Friday, extends into the evening and then starts up again on Saturday morning, moving into the afternoon hours.

The Wyoming teams Evanston is scheduled to battle include the number one team in both the 2A and 3A divisions in Cokeville, and the host Braves, the sixth-ranked 3A team in Lander, and Riverton, ranked No. 3 in 4A. The Red Devils fell out of the top six following the E.I., but could easily find their way back among the top-ranked with a strong performance in Afton.

The 4A individual rankings after the first week of competition show Bruce Lester ranked fourth at 138 pounds, Batista Covolo is third at 152, Brayton Sanders stays in the second spot at 160, William Kishpaugh is sixth at 170, Eric Sowers is seventh at 220 and Carlos Heredia is sixth at 285 pounds, to round out the ranked Red Devils.

Hopefully, the Red Devils will be able shift some wrestlers into other weight classes. The team has been battling a strep throat illness, as well.

The first dual in the Red Devils’ gym is scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 19, when the Bear River Bears and their coach, Jeff Smart, former Red Devils head coach, return to Evanston for a 5 p.m. start.